Directing a power signal from a port power controller to one of multiple physical ports

ABSTRACT

A technique is able to direct a power signal from a port power controller to one of multiple physical ports. The technique involves activating a set of port power controllers. Each port power controller is constructed and arranged to deliver power to a device through at most one physical port at a time. The technique further involves performing a set of discovery operations to discover device presence, the set of discovery operations providing discovery data. The technique further involves providing, based on the discovery data provided by the set of discovery operations, a set of switching signals to switching circuitry which is coupled to a set of physical ports. The switching circuitry is constructed and arranged to steer power signals from the activated set of port power controllers through the set of physical ports to deliver power to a set of devices.

BACKGROUND

A conventional Power over Ethernet (PoE) system includes power sourcing equipment (PSE) and one or more powered devices (PDs) that connect to the PSE through cabling (e.g., CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, etc.). IEEE 802.3af-2003 is a standard for delivering up to 12.95 Watts to a PD. IEEE 802.3at-2009 is a standard for delivering up to 25.5 Watts of power to a PD.

Before the PSE delivers any power to a PD through one of its ports, the PSE typically performs a discovery operation through that port. For example, if the PSE does not detect a particular impedance which identifies the PD as a device which can receive power through that port, the PSE does not deliver power through that port thus preventing damage to the device. However, if the PSE detects the particular impedance through that port, the PSE delivers power to the PD through that port. IEEE 802.3af-2003 (PoE) and IEEE 802.3at-2009 (PoE Enhancements) provide additional detection and classification details.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic environment which involves directing a power signal from a port power controller to one of multiple physical ports.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of particular details of a PSE device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first power delivery topology for the electronic environment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second power delivery topology for the electronic environment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a third power delivery topology for the electronic environment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a procedure which is performed by control circuitry of the PSE device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

An improved technique involves directing a power signal from a port power controller (e.g., a PSE controller) to one of multiple physical ports (e.g., RJ45 ports) through switching circuitry. Such a technique is capable of providing a PSE with significant power delivery flexibility without the need to over provision the PSE with an excessive number port power controllers. In particular, suppose that each port power controller of a PSE device is capable of providing up to a predefined amount of power (e.g., 30 Watts) to an external device through a physical port. Further suppose that the external device is able to draw more than the predefined amount of power (e.g., the external device indicates to the PSE that the PSE should provide more than 30 Watts). In this situation, the switching circuitry is able to steer power from multiple port power controllers of the PSE to the external device through the same physical port to accommodate the power needs of the external device. Such a technique alleviates the need to provision each physical port of the PSE device with multiple dedicated port power controllers (i.e., multiple port power controllers which are exclusively dedicated to that physical port).

One embodiment is directed to a method which includes activating a set of port power controllers. Each port power controller is constructed and arranged to deliver power to a device through at most one physical port at a time. The method further includes performing a set of discovery operations to discover device presence, the set of discovery operations providing discovery data. The method further includes providing, based on the discovery data provided by the set of discovery operations, a set of switching signals to switching circuitry which is coupled to the set of physical ports. The switching circuitry is constructed and arranged to direct power signals from the activated set of port power controllers through the set of physical ports to deliver power to a set of devices. Such a method is thus able to steer a power signal from a port power controller (e.g., a PSE controller) to one of multiple physical ports.

Other embodiments are directed to an apparatus and a system for steering a power signal from a port power controller to one of multiple physical ports. Yet other embodiments are directed to logic (e.g., a computer program product, logic circuitry, etc.) for steering a power signal from a port power controller to one of multiple physical ports, and so on.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an electronic environment 20 having a PSE device 22, external devices 24(A), 24(B), . . . (collectively, external devices 24) and cabling 26(A), 26(B), . . . (collectively, cabling 26). The external devices 24 may include PDs as well as devices which are not able to accept inline power. Advantageously, the PSE device 22 is equipped with electronic circuitry which enables steering of a power signal from a port power controller to different physical ports for flexible inline power delivery.

As shown in FIG. 1, the PSE device 22 includes data communications circuitry 30, power delivery circuitry 32 (illustrated generally by the arrow 32), and physical ports 34(A), 34(B), . . . (collectively, physical ports 34). The data communications circuitry 30 is constructed and arranged to perform data communications operations and exchange data signals 40(TX), 40(RX) (collectively, data signals 40) with the external devices 24 through the physical ports 34. The power delivery circuitry 32 is constructed and arranged to identify the presence of PDs among the external devices 24, and to deliver inline power signals 42 appropriately to the PDs through the physical ports 34 (e.g., 15 Watts, 30 Watts, greater than 30 Watts, etc.).

The power delivery circuitry 32 includes a power supply 50, port power controllers 52(1), 52(2), . . . (collectively, port power controllers 52), power signal switches 54(1)(A), 54(1)(B), 54(2)(A), 54(2)(B), . . . (collectively, power signal switches 54), and power signal steering circuitry 56. Preferably, the power supply 50 has enough capacity to power the operation of multiple PDs through multiple physical ports 34 as well as power the PSE device 22 itself.

Each port power controller 52 couples to multiple power signal switches 54 leading to multiple physical ports 34. For example, the port power controller 52(1) couples to power signal switches 54(1)(A) and 54(1)(B) which lead to physical ports 34(A) and 34(B), respectively. Similarly, the port power controller 52(2) couples to power signal switches 54(2)(A) and 54(2)(B) which lead to physical ports 34(A) and 34(B), respectively. In some arrangements, the power signal switches 54 are discrete transistors which are capable of handling relatively large amounts of current (e.g., MOSFETs).

The power signal switches 54 form an array of switches 54 which steers power signals 42 from different port power controllers 52 to different physical ports 34. That is, such a switch arrangement enables direction of a power signal 42 from each port power controller 52 to one of multiple physical ports 34 in the manner of a de-multiplexer. Furthermore, such a switch arrangement enables each physical port 34 to receive power signals 42 from multiple port power controllers 52, perhaps simultaneously if delivering inline power to a high power PD.

It should be understood that each port power controller 52 is shown in FIG. 1 as coupling to two power signal switches 54 respectively leading to two physical ports 34 by way of example and for simplicity. However, as illustrated by the ellipses (“ . . . ”) in FIG. 1, each port power controller 52 may couple to more than two power signal switches 54 leading to more than two physical ports 34. In some arrangements, the array of switches 54 is constructed and arranged to provide 1-to-any connectivity to any physical port 34 of the PSE device 22.

It should be further understood that, upon activation, the power signal steering circuitry 56 obtains a set of PD discovery signals 60 and the port power controllers 52 are capable of running in a variety of operating modes. For example, in discovery mode, the port power controllers 52 do not provide inline power but periodically sense for characteristic impedance which indicates the presence of PDs. In some embodiments, the power signal steering circuitry 56 is pre-configured to provide a set of switch signals 62 to the power signal switches 54 to initially connect each port power controller 52 to a respective physical port 34.

Once a port power controller 52 connects to a respective physical port 34, the port power controller 52 performs inline power discovery operations (e.g., PD detection and classification). If the port power controller 52 discovers a PD in need of inline power, the port power controller 52 delivers inline power to that PD. However, if the port power controller 52 does not discover a PD in need of inline power, the power signal steering circuitry 56 can decide to connect the port power controller 52 a different physical port 34 to discover a PD which may need inline power.

As shown in FIG. 1, one will appreciate that the port power controller 52(1) is capable of performing PD discovery and power up operations with the external device 24(A) through the power signal switch 54(1)(A) and the physical port 34(A). Likewise, the port power controller 52(2) performs PD discovery and power up operations with the external device 24(B) through the power signal switch 54(2)(B) and the physical port 34(B), and so on.

Since there are alternative pathways available, it is further possible for the port power controllers 52 to perform PD discovery and power up operations through other power signal switches 54 as well. For example, the port power controller 52(1) is capable of performing PD discovery and power up operations with the external device 24(B) through the power signal switch 54(1)(B) and the physical port 34(B). Similarly, the port power controller 52(2) is capable of performing PD discovery and power up operations with the external device 24(A) through the power signal switch 54(2)(A) and the physical port 34(A), and so on.

Once the port power controllers 52 have completed inline power discovery operations with the external devices 24, the port power controllers 52 pass the results of the inline PD discovery operations to the power signal steering circuitry 56 via PD discovery signals 60. It should be understood that, due to the switching operation of the power signal steering circuitry 56, each port power controller 52 attaches to only one physical port 34 at a time.

Additionally, the power signal steering circuitry 56 is capable of providing feedback and control signals 64 to the port power controllers 52. Such signals 64 enable, among other things, the port power controllers 52 to coordinate their operation among each other. For example, in response to a power negotiation operation resulting in discovery of a high power PD, the power signal steering circuitry 56 able to coordinate delivery of inline power from multiple port power controllers 52 through the same physical port 34, i.e., delivery of up to 60 Watts from two port power controllers 52 to a PD through a physical port 34.

It should be understood that the port power controllers 52 are capable of routinely re-performing the inline power negotiation operations with the external devices 24, and then updating the PD discovery signals 60 provided to the power signal steering circuitry 56. For example, while in discovery mode, the port power controllers 52 can periodically sense for new PDs on physical ports 34 which originally did not connect to PDs. Additionally, while in inline power mode, the port power controllers 52 can periodically renegotiate power delivery with existing PDs in response to certain events (e.g., based on a time schedule, a change in power demand, periodically, etc.). As a result of the activity of the power signal steering circuitry 56, the power signal steering circuitry 56 may maintain the switch signals 62 at existing settings to maintain the power delivery configuration of the PSE device 22, or alter the switch signals 62 from the existing settings to re-distribute the power signals 42 to among the external devices 24. Furthermore, via the feedback and control signals 64, the power signal steering circuitry 56 can coordinate operation of the port power controllers 52 in an ongoing manner.

In some arrangements, each port power controller 52 performs PD discovery during a discovery phase, and PD classification during a classification phase through at least one physical port 34. Furthermore, when a port power controller 52 delivers inline power through a physical port 34, the port power controller 52 preferably regulates and conditions its power signal 42 for proper delivery of power to the PD. The particular operation of each port power controller 52 may be defined by one or more PoE standards including IEEE 802.3af-2003 and IEEE 802.3at-2009.

Additionally, transceivers of the data communications circuitry 32 exchange transmit signals 40(TX) and receive signals 40(RX) with the external devices 24 through the physical ports 34. In some arrangements, networking circuitry of the data communications circuitry 32 operates as network node (e.g., a router, a network switch, etc.). In other arrangements, the networking circuitry of the data communications circuitry 32 operates as an endpoint device (e.g., a Voice over IP system manager, a closed-circuit television server, etc.).

Furthermore, the wiring pathways for the cabling 26 preferably includes eight copper conductors arranged as four twisted wire pairs for two-pair inline power delivery (e.g., up to 30 Watts) or four-pair inline power delivery (e.g., up to 60 Watts). Suitable wiring for the cable 26 includes (e.g., CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, and the like). Such wiring enables conveyance of the high speed data signals 40 between the PSE device 22 and PDs, as well as power signals 42 from the PSE device 22 to the PDs. Further details will now be provided with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows particular details of the power delivery circuitry 32 of the PSE device 22. In FIG. 2, the power supply 50 is represented as source V_supply and return V_return (e.g., −48 Volts).

Additionally, each physical port 34 includes four isolation transformers 80. For example, the physical port 34(A) includes isolation transformers 80(A)(1), 80(A)(2), 80(A)(3), 80(A)(4). Similarly, the physical port 34(B) includes isolation transformers 80(B)(1), 80(B)(2), 80(B)(3), 80(B)(4), and so on.

The primary side 82 of each isolation transformer 80 connects to the data communications circuitry 30, and the secondary side 84 of each isolation transformer 80 connects with the cabling 26 (also see FIG. 1), e.g., via an RJ45 connector. As a result, the data communications circuitry 30 (FIG. 1) is able to effectively send and receive data communications signals 40 through the physical ports 34 while maintaining DC electrical isolation with the secondary side 84 of the physical ports 34.

The secondary sides 84 of the isolation transformers 80 have center taps 86 which connect to either a particular power signal switch 54 or the V_return of the power supply 50 (also see FIG. 1). Specifically, in connection with physical port 34(A), the center tap 86 of transformer 80(A)(1) connects to the power signal switch 54(1)(A), the center tap 86 of transformer 80(A)(2) connects to V_return, the center tap 86 of transformer 80(A)(3) connects to the power signal switch 54(2)(A), and the center tap 86 of transformer 80(A)(4) connects to V_return. Likewise, in connection with physical port 34(B), the center tap 86 of transformer 80(B)(1) connects to the power signal switch 54(2)(B), the center tap 86 of transformer 80(B)(2) connects to V_return, the center tap 86 of transformer 80(B)(3) connects to the power signal switch 54(1)(B), and the center tap 86 of transformer 80(B)(4) connects to V_return.

Each power signal switch 54 has a control terminal 90 which receives a specific switch signal 62 from the power signal steering circuitry 56 to control steering of power signals 42 from the power supply 50 to the physical ports 34. In particular, control terminal 90(1)(A) receives a switch signal 62(1)(A) which opens and closes the power signal switch 54(1)(A). Control terminal 90(1)(B) receives a switch signal 62(1)(B) which opens and closes the power signal switch 54(1)(B). Control terminal 90(2)(A) receives a switch signal 62(2)(A) which opens and closes the power signal switch 54(2)(A). Control terminal 90(2)(B) receives a switch signal 62(2)(B) which opens and closes the power signal switch 54(2)(B).

At this point, it should be understood that the power delivery circuitry 32 of the PSE device 22 is capable of controlling connectivity between the port power controllers 52 and the physical ports 34. For example, by opening and closing particular power signal switches 54, the power delivery circuitry 32 is capable of connecting one port power controller 52 to a physical port 34 (e.g., to provide up to 30 Watts to a PD), or multiple port power controllers 52 to the physical port 34 (e.g., to provide up to 60 Watts to the PD).

For example, suppose that there are no external devices 24 in need of inline power. In this situation, the power signal steering circuitry 56 preferably connects each port power controller 52 to a particular physical port 34 to allow circuitry within that port power controller 52 to sense for the characteristic impedance of a PD (i.e., when someone connects a PD to the physical port 34). Here, the power signal steering circuitry 56 can provide a switch signal 62(1)(A) to the control terminal 90(1)(A) to close the power signal switch 54(1)(A). At the same time, the power signal steering circuitry 56 can provide a switch signal 62(1)(B) to the control terminal 90(1)(B) to open the power signal switch 54(1)(B) and thus disconnect the port power controller 52(1) from the physical port 34(B). As a result, the port power controller 52(1) is able to sense for the characteristic impedance of a PD through transformers 80(A)(1) and 80(A)(2) of the physical port 34(A).

Similarly, the power signal steering circuitry 56 can provide a switch signal 62(2)(B) to the control terminal 90(2)(B) to close the power signal switch 54(2)(B). At the same time, the power signal steering circuitry 56 can provide a switch signal 62(2)(A) to the control terminal 90(2)(A) to open the power signal switch 54(2)(A) and thus disconnect the port power controller 52(2) from the physical port 34(A). Thus, the port power controller 52(2) is able to sense for the characteristic impedance of a PD through transformers 80(B)(1) and 80(B)(2) of the physical port 34(B).

In some arrangements, each power signal switch 54 is a MOSFET and the control terminal 90 of that power signal switch 54 is the gate of that MOSFET. In these arrangements, the power signal steering circuitry 56 preferably provides separate switch signals 62 to control each MOSFET. In certain arrangements, the switch signal 62 to close a MOSFET is a logically inverted form of the switch signal 62 to open another MOSFET.

It should be understood that since the port power controllers 52 have been activated (e.g., they are fully operational and connected to the power supply 50), the port power controllers 52 are able to provide power signals 42 in response to PD discovery. In some arrangements, the maximum amount of inline power that can be supplied by each port power controller 52 is 30 Watts although the PSE device 22 is capable of delivering up to 60 Watts through a physical port 34 by switching multiple port power controllers 52 to the same physical port 34.

FIG. 3 shows a situation in which a PD 100 connects to physical port 34(A), and in which there is no PD connected to physical port 34(B). Here, the power signal steering circuitry 56 provides a set of switch signals 62 to the power signal switches 54 to create a first switch configuration (also see FIGS. 1 and 2) which enables the port power controllers 52 to sense for the presence of PDs through the physical ports 34. In particular, the power signal switch 54(1)(A) is closed, and the power signal switch 54(1)(B) is opened. Accordingly, the port power controller 52(1) connects to the physical port 34(A) but is disconnected from the physical port 34(B), i.e., the disconnected path 104 from the power signal switch 54(1)(B) to the physical port 34(B) is shown as a dashed line. Additionally, the power signal switch 54(2)(B) is closed, and the power signal switch 54(2)(A) is opened. Accordingly, the port power controller 52(2) connects to the physical port 34(B) but is disconnected from the physical port 34(A), i.e., the disconnected path 106 from the power signal switch 54(2)(A) to the physical port 34(A) is shown as a dashed line.

In the situation of FIG. 3, the port power controller 52(1) detects the presence of the characteristic impedance through the closed power signal switch 54(1)(A), and then provides a power signal 42 to provide inline power through the closed power signal switch 54(1)(A) and physical port 34(A). As a result, the port power controller 52(1) delivers inline power through the physical port 34(A) and two twisted pairs 112 of the cabling 26(A) (i.e., two pair power, also see the transformers 80(A)(1), 80(A)(2) of FIG. 2). However, as shown by further dashed lines, no inline power is provided through the other two twisted pairs 114 of the cabling 26(A) (i.e., also see the transformers 80(A)(3), 80(A)(4) of FIG. 2). Nevertheless, data communications signals 40 are capable of being exchanged through both twisted pair sets 112, 114 (i.e., all four transformers 80 of the physical port 34(A), see FIG. 2).

Now suppose that the PD 100 indicates that it can receive more than the maximum amount of inline power that can be supplied by the port power controller 52(1) (e.g., during classification or power renegotiation). If the port power controller 52(2) is active (e.g., able to sense) but not currently delivering inline power through any physical port 34, the power signal steering circuitry 56 (FIG. 1) is capable of directing a power signal 42 from the port power controller 52(2) to the physical port 34(A) for four pair power delivery (see the feedback and control signals 64 in FIGS. 1 and 2).

FIG. 4 shows a second switch configuration created by the power signal steering circuitry 56 (FIGS. 1 and 2) for four pair power delivery. Here, the power signal switches 54(1)(A) and 54(2(A) are closed, and the power signal switches 54(1)(B) and 54(2(B) are opened. Accordingly, the port power controllers 52(1), 52(2) connect to the physical port 34(A). However, as shown by dashed lines, the port power controllers 52(1), 52(2) are disconnected from the physical port 34(B). The port power controllers 52(2) are able to provide respective power signals 42 via individual discovery or by discovery by one of the port power controllers 52 and coordination via the power signal steering circuitry 56. As a result, the port power controller 52(1) provides inline power to the PD 100 through the physical port 34(A) and the two twisted pairs 112 of the cabling 26(A), and the port power controller 52(2) provides inline power to the PD 100 through the physical port 34(A) and the two twisted pairs 114 of the cabling 26(A).

Again, data communications signals 40 are capable of being exchanged through both twisted pair sets 112, 114 (i.e., all four transformers 80 of the physical port 34(A), see FIG. 2) while the PSE device 22 delivers four pair power to the PD 100. Moreover, although there is no inline power delivery through the physical port 34(B), data communications signals 40 are capable of being exchanged through the physical port 34(B) with an non-PD style device or a device with external power nevertheless (also see the external device 24(B) in FIG. 1). Such a situation is makes efficient use of the resources of the power delivery circuitry 32. In particular, there is no need to over provision the power delivery circuitry 32 with multiple port power controller 52(1) exclusively dedicated to each physical port 34(B).

FIG. 5 shows a third switch configuration created by the power signal steering circuitry 56 (FIGS. 1 and 2) in order to demonstrate the inline power distribution flexibility provided by the power delivery circuitry 32. Suppose that a PD 100 connects to the physical port 34(B). Such a situation may occur after the configurations of FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, the power signal steering circuitry 56 (FIGS. 1 and 2) provides switch signals 62 to the power signal switches 54 to close power signal switches 54(1)(B) and 54(2)(B), and simultaneously open power signal switches 54(1)(A) and 54(2)(A) as shown by the dashed lines. As a result, the same port power controllers 52(1), 52(2) in the earlier-mentioned switch configurations of FIGS. 3 and 4 deliver inline power through the physical port 34(B) and the two twisted pair sets 112, 114 of the cabling 26(B) (i.e., four pair power).

It should be understood that the various switch configurations described in connection with FIGS. 3 through 5, and others (e.g., two pair power through physical port 34(B), two pair power through both physical ports 34(A), 34(B), and so on) are attainable via operation of the switches 54. Such switch configurations alleviate the need to over provision the PSE device 22 with port power controllers 52 which are exclusively dedicated to particular physical ports 34. Further details will now be provided with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a procedure 200 which is performed by the PSE device 22 of the electronic environment 20 (FIG. 1). In step 202, the PSE device 22 activates a set of port power controllers 52 where each port power controller 52 is constructed and arranged to deliver power to a device through at most one physical port 34 at a time. Such activation may occur as soon as the PSE device 22 is turned on. At this point, the power signal steering circuitry 56 opens and closes certain switches 54 so that each port power controller 52 is able to sense for the presence of a PD through a particular physical port 34. For example, port power controller 52(1) senses through physical port 34(A), and port power controller 52(2) senses through physical port 34(B).

In step 204, the PSE device 22 performs a set of discovery operations to discover PD presence through the physical ports 34. In particular, the port power controllers 52 sense through the physical ports 34 and provide discovery data to the power signal steering circuitry 56 in the form of the PD discovery signals 60 (FIG. 1). IEEE 802.3af-2003 and IEEE 802.3at-2009 define detection and classification protocols which are suitable for use by the port power controllers 52.

In step 206, the PSE device 22 steers power signals 42 appropriately among the physical ports 34. In particular, the power signal steering circuitry 56 provides, based on the discovery data provided by the set of discovery operations, switching signals 62 to switches 54. As a result, the switches 54 are able to direct delivery of inline power through the physical ports 34 in an efficient and effective manner.

While various embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For example, FIG. 1 shows the PSE device 22 as having two port power controllers 52 couple to each physical port 34. In other arrangements, more than two port power controllers 52 couple to each physical port 34. In these arrangements, additional switches 54 reside between the port power controllers 52 and the physical ports 34 to control and connectivity and steering of power signals 42 from the port power controllers 52 to the physical ports 34.

In some arrangements, the PSE device 22 includes some physical ports 34 which are provisioned to provide either 4-pair power or 2-pair power, and other physical ports 34 which are simply provisioned to provide 2-pair power. For example, suppose that a 48 port switch has two rows of physical ports 34, with each physical port 34 having a path to a respective port power controller 52. The switches 54 can be arranged so that the first 24 physical ports 34 (e.g., a row including port #1 through port #24) are capable of providing up to 4-pair power while the last 24 physical ports 34 (e.g., another row including port #25 through port #48) is merely capable of providing 2-pair power. Such a configuration provides enhanced user friendliness in that users can obtain 2-pair power or 4-pair power using physical ports 34 from left to right (e.g., the row of port #1 through port #24).

During operation, if the first 24 physical ports 34 currently provide 4-pair power, the last 24 ports would not provide PoE. In this situation, port #1 connects to the port power controller 52 for port #1 as well as the port power controller 52 for port #48. As a result, port #48 no longer has a connection to its respective power controller 52, but would still be capable of operating as an Ethernet port. Other combinations are available as well.

Additionally, it should be understood that the above-described circuitry is flexible in terms of when and how the switches 54 are turned on and off. In some arrangements, once detection/classification passes on a particular port 34 and the power signal steering circuitry 56 has determined the appropriate 4-pair/2-pair power delivery situation for the electronic environment 20 based on all available data, the power signal steering circuitry 56 opens and closes the appropriate switches 54 to route power to the proper port or ports 34.

Furthermore, it should be understood that it is possible to integrate one or more of the above-described components of the PSE device 22 in a common package or PoE chip. In some arrangements, the switches 54 along with the port power controllers 52 reside in the same integrated circuit device. 

1. A method, comprising: activating a set of port power controllers, each port power controller being constructed and arranged to deliver power to a device through at most one physical port at a time; performing a set of discovery operations to discover device presence, the set of discovery operations providing discovery data; and based on the discovery data provided by the set of discovery operations, providing a set of switching signals to switching circuitry which is coupled to a set of physical ports, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to steer power signals from the activated set of port power controllers through the set of physical ports to deliver power to a set of devices.
 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein providing the set of switching signals to the switching circuitry includes: selecting a particular switch configuration from a group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a particular power signal from a particular port power controller to a first physical port and not from the particular port power controller to a second physical port when a first switch configuration is selected, (ii) steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the second physical port and not from the particular port power controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration is selected, and (iii) not steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the first physical port and not steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration is selected.
 3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the switching circuitry includes a first power signal switch disposed between the particular port power controller and the first physical port, and a second power signal switch disposed between the particular port power controller and the second physical port; and wherein selecting the first switch configuration includes providing a first switching signal to the first power signal switch and concurrently providing a second switching signal to the second power signal switch to convey the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the first physical port and to prevent the particular power signal from the particular port power controller from reaching the second physical port.
 4. A method as in claim 3 wherein the first power signal switch is a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET); wherein providing the first switching signal to the first power signal switch includes applying an asserted voltage to a gate terminal of the first MOSFET establish a power signal pathway between the particular port power controller and the first physical port; wherein the second power signal switch is a second MOSFET; and wherein providing the second switching signal to the second power signal switch includes applying a de-asserted voltage to a gate terminal of the second MOSFET to prevent a power signal pathway from being established between the particular port power controller and the first physical port, the asserted voltage being a logically inverted form of the de-asserted voltage.
 5. A method as in claim 3 wherein the first physical port is a first RJ45 data communications port which is constructed and arranged to couple to a first external device through first Ethernet grade cabling; wherein the second physical port is a second RJ45 data communications port which is constructed and arranged to couple to a second external device through second Ethernet grade cabling; and wherein the method further comprises exchanging Ethernet communications signals with the first external device through the first RJ45 data communications port while the particular power signal is conveyed to the first external device from the particular power controller through the first RJ45 data communications port and through the first Ethernet grade cabling.
 6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the activated set of port power controllers includes a first power sourcing equipment (PSE) controller and a second PSE controller; and wherein providing the set of switching signals to the switching circuitry includes: selecting a switch configuration from a first group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a first power signal from the first PSE controller to a first physical port and not from the first PSE controller to a second physical port when a first switch configuration of the first group is selected, (ii) steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the second physical port and not from the first PSE controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration of the first group is selected, and (iii) not steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the first physical port and not steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration of the first group is selected, and selecting a switch configuration from a second group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a second power signal from the second PSE controller to the first physical port and not from the second PSE controller to the second physical port when a first switch configuration of the second group is selected, (ii) steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the second physical port and not from the second PSE controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration of the second group is selected, and (iii) not steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the first physical port and not steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration of the second group is selected.
 7. A method as in claim 6 wherein selecting the switch configuration from the first group of switch configurations and selecting the switch configuration from the second group of switch configurations occur substantially concurrently.
 8. A method as in claim 7 wherein selecting the switch configuration from the first group of switch configurations includes operating the switching circuitry in the first switch configuration of the first group to deliver power from the first PSE controller to a first device through the first physical port during a particular time period; and wherein selecting the switch configuration from the second group of switch configurations includes operating the switching circuitry in the first switch configuration of the second group to deliver power from the second PSE controller to the first device through the first physical port during the particular time period.
 9. A method as in claim 8 wherein operating the switching circuitry in the first switch configuration of the first group includes delivering up to 30 Watts of power from the first PSE controller to the first device through the first physical port; and wherein operating the switching circuitry in the first switch configuration of the second group includes delivering up to 30 Watts of power from the second PSE controller to the first device through the first physical port to provide up to 60 Watts of power to the first device through the first physical port.
 10. A method as in claim 8 wherein selecting the switch configuration from the first group of switch configurations further includes operating the switching circuitry in the second switch configuration of the first group to deliver power from the first PSE controller to a second device through the second physical port during a second time period after the particular time period; and wherein selecting the switch configuration from the second group of switch configurations includes operating the switching circuitry in the second switch configuration of the second group to deliver power from the second PSE controller to the second device through the second physical port during the second time period after the particular time period.
 11. An apparatus, comprising: a set of physical ports; a set of port power controllers, each port power controller being constructed and arranged to deliver power to a device through at most one physical port at a time; switching circuitry coupled to the set of physical ports and the set of port power controllers; and control circuitry coupled the set of port power controllers and the switching circuitry, the control circuitry being constructed and arranged to provide, based on discovery data provided by a set of discovery operations, a set of switching signals to the switching circuitry to steer power signals from the set of port power controllers through the set of physical ports to deliver power to a set of devices.
 12. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the control circuitry, when providing the set of switching signals to the switching circuitry, is constructed and arranged to: select a particular switch configuration from a group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a particular power signal from a particular port power controller to a first physical port and not from the particular port power controller to a second physical port when a first switch configuration is selected, (ii) steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the second physical port and not from the particular port power controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration is selected, and (iii) not steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the first physical port and not steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration is selected.
 13. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the switching circuitry includes a first power signal switch disposed between the particular port power controller and the first physical port, and a second power signal switch disposed between the particular port power controller and the second physical port; and wherein the control circuitry, when selecting the first switch configuration, is constructed and arranged to provide a first switching signal to the first power signal switch and concurrently provide a second switching signal to the second power signal switch to convey the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the first physical port and to prevent the particular power signal from the particular port power controller from reaching the second physical port.
 14. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the set of port power controllers includes a first power sourcing equipment (PSE) controller and a second PSE controller; and wherein the control circuitry, when providing the set of switching signals to the switching circuitry, is constructed and arranged to: select a switch configuration from a first group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a first power signal from the first PSE controller to a first physical port and not from the first PSE controller to a second physical port when a first switch configuration of the first group is selected, (ii) steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the second physical port and not from the first PSE controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration of the first group is selected, and (iii) not steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the first physical port and not steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration of the first group is selected, and select a switch configuration from a second group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a second power signal from the second PSE controller to the first physical port and not from the second PSE controller to the second physical port when a first switch configuration of the second group is selected, (ii) steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the second physical port and not from the second PSE controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration of the second group is selected, and (iii) not steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the first physical port and not steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration of the second group is selected.
 15. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the control circuitry is constructed and arranged to select the switch configuration from the first group of switch configurations and select the switch configuration from the second group of switch configurations substantially concurrently.
 16. Logic encoded on one or more tangible computer readable media for execution and when executed operable to: activate a set of port power controllers, each port power controller being constructed and arranged to deliver power to a device through at most one physical port at a time; perform a set of discovery operations to discover device presence, the set of discovery operations providing discovery data; and based on the discovery data provided by the set of discovery operations, provide a set of switching signals to switching circuitry which is coupled to a set of physical ports, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to steer power signals from the activated set of port power controllers through the set of physical ports to deliver power to a set of devices.
 17. Logic encoded on one or more tangible computer readable media as in claim 16 wherein the logic, when providing the set of switching signals to the switching circuitry, is operable to: select a particular switch configuration from a group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a particular power signal from a particular port power controller to a first physical port and not from the particular port power controller to a second physical port when a first switch configuration is selected, (ii) steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the second physical port and not from the particular port power controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration is selected, and (iii) not steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the first physical port and not steer the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration is selected.
 18. Logic encoded on one or more tangible computer readable media as in claim 17 wherein the switching circuitry includes a first power signal switch disposed between the particular port power controller and the first physical port, and a second power signal switch disposed between the particular port power controller and the second physical port; and wherein the logic, when selecting the first switch configuration, is operable to provide a first switching signal to the first power signal switch and concurrently provide a second switching signal to the second power signal switch to convey the particular power signal from the particular port power controller to the first physical port and to prevent the particular power signal from the particular port power controller from reaching the second physical port.
 19. Logic encoded on one or more tangible computer readable media as in claim 16 wherein the set of port power controllers includes a first power sourcing equipment (PSE) controller and a second PSE controller; and wherein the logic, when providing the set of switching signals to the switching circuitry, is operable to: select a switch configuration from a first group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a first power signal from the first PSE controller to a first physical port and not from the first PSE controller to a second physical port when a first switch configuration of the first group is selected, (ii) steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the second physical port and not from the first PSE controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration of the first group is selected, and (iii) not steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the first physical port and not steer the first power signal from the first PSE controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration of the first group is selected, and select a switch configuration from a second group of switch configurations, the switching circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) steer a second power signal from the second PSE controller to the first physical port and not from the second PSE controller to the second physical port when a first switch configuration of the second group is selected, (ii) steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the second physical port and not from the second PSE controller to the first physical port when a second switch configuration of the second group is selected, and (iii) not steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the first physical port and not steer the second power signal from the second PSE controller to the second physical port when a third switch configuration of the second group is selected.
 20. Logic encoded on one or more tangible computer readable media as in claim 19 wherein the logic is operable to substantially concurrently select the switch configuration from the first group of switch configurations and select the switch configuration from the second group of switch configurations. 